Thoughts on arrival day lunch

[Jgeauxmo]

We will be driving straight through the night and I'm trying to decide where to eat when we get to the world. We have a tradition that our first day is always Epcot. We are going to do dinner at yachtsman that night. We will be on dxddp. We have Rose and Crown, Via Napoli and San Angel later in the week. I want something super casual because we probably won't be looking our best (we will go back to the room and check in before yachtsman) I am thinking Biergarten? Any other ideas. We've never tried biergarten but I've seen some pretty good reviews of it recently. Oh and it's me dh a two year old and my mother in law.

 

[hookedonears]

We will be driving straight through the night and I'm trying to decide where to eat when we get to the world. We have a tradition that our first day is always Epcot. We are going to do dinner at yachtsman that night. We will be on dxddp. We have Rose and Crown, Via Napoli and San Angel later in the week. I want something super casual because we probably won't be looking our best (we will go back to the room and check in before yachtsman) I am thinking Biergarten? Any other ideas. We've never tried biergarten but I've seen some pretty good reviews of it recently. Oh and it's me dh a two year old and my mother in law.

We fly in so our options are limited, though typically we just grab a quick bite at the quick service restaurant at our resort before heading to the parks. Though since you're driving, I'd just go through a drive through on the way and grab something quick.

 

[Crystal824]

You don't mention where you are staying or what time you will arrive? If you are going to eat soon after arriving, how about something at your resort?

 

[need2travel]

If you're looking for casual how about Les Halles de Boulangerie? It's quick, easy & yummy. We always do Epcot on our arrival day too & usually try to get a walk up at Les Chefs de France & if that doesn't work we do Les Halles. We'll be at one of them on June 30, can't wait!

 

[Jgeauxmo]

You don't mention where you are staying or what time you will arrive? If you are going to eat soon after arriving, how about something at your resort?

We are staying at AOA. We will be getting there anywhere between 8 and 10 depending on how much we stop etc. I guess we could do the food court there. But it's my mother in laws first time so I kind of wanted her to have a good impression. We definitely want to use our dining plan and not just hit the drive through and waste those credits. The two places in France may be a good option.

 

[CraigInPA]

Why not have lunch at the Captain's Grille in the Yacht Club? CG is typically not so crowded at lunch that you couldn't just do a walk-up. Being on the DxDDP, I wouldn't want you to "waste" a table service credit on a counter service... Alternatively, you have all the restaurants in Epcot to choose from, being as you'll likely be going there before your dinner at Yachtsman that evening.

 

[Crystal824]

We are staying at AOA. We will be getting there anywhere between 8 and 10 depending on how much we stop etc. I guess we could do the food court there. But it's my mother in laws first time so I kind of wanted her to have a good impression. We definitely want to use our dining plan and not just hit the drive through and waste those credits. The two places in France may be a good option.

Art of Animation has a great food court, but I probably wouldn't want to spend deluxe credits on it either

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I like Germany, it's a very fun meal with good food, though I think after a long drive I'd want something more relaxing, so maybe Coral Reef or Tokyo Dining?

 

[Jgeauxmo]

I like Germany, it's a very fun meal with good food, though I think after a long drive I'd want something more relaxing, so maybe Coral Reef or Tokyo Dining?

I hadn't even considered Tokyo dining! I'm going to go look a the menu now.

 

[margot31]

If this is your MIL"s first time maybe she can look at some of the places too and get her opinion.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Maybe I'm just old, but driving straight thru the night + already having a dinner reservation, I would either:
a) grab QS at the resort and hang by the pool a bit
b) grab QS at the resort and take a nap
c) take a nap

Not sure how long you are going for, but would it be possible to start a day early? We usually fly in a day early, stay at Best Western Lake Buena Vista (DTD area) for under $100, then get up refreshed the next day and check into Disney. This way we don't feel like we are wasting precious time by napping while we are at Disney! Maybe you can start driving a day earlier and spend a night outside of Disney to rest ? The next day check in and be rested for Epcot lunch and your dinner

 

[purple figment]

Biergarten is one of our favorites, but since you want your MIL to have a good first impression, be sure she is okay with communal seating.

Garden Grill with its characters and glimpses of Living with the Land attraction is a good introduction to the uniqueness of some restaurants in DW.

 

[Crystal824]

You know Garden Grill is a good option. It has characters, which screams Disney and rotates so it is somewhat unique. If I wanted table service at Epcot for my first day, I might go with Garden Grill especially if I were brining someone who had no been to WDW previously.

 

[CarolynFH]

I'd plan on QS rather than a TS that requires an ADR. You don't want to be worrying about paying the no-show fee if you run into traffic or weather delays on your drive in.

AOA has a good food court but in addition to the other suggestions I'd add Tangierine Cafe in Morocco at Epcot.

You & MIL should probably both look at menus online!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Just know with Biergarten, you will be seated with other people.

We like Tokyo Dining and really like Spice Road Table. You can sit indoors or outside with a view of the lagoon. After driving through the night, I don't know if I would want to be in a dark, loud restaurant like Biergarten, but that's me!